Permanent Cell Cycle Arrest Research Articles

The Potential Role of the Six1/Eya1 Pathway in the Establishment of Leukemia Stem Cells in MLL-ENL – Induced Leukemia

Abstract 1362During the multistep pathogenesis of acute leukemia (AL), a pool of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) emerges that is capable of limitless self-renewal and ensuring disease maintenance. The molecular mechanism that controls the kinetics of cellular transformation and development of LSCs is largely unknown.Using our MLL-ENL-ERtm mouse model, we have previously shown (Takacova et al., Blood 2009, 114 (22): 947–947, ASH abstract) activation of the ATR/ATM-Chk1/Chk2-p53/p21 checkpoint leading to senescence at early stages of cellular transformation (myeloproliferation), thereby preventing AL development in vivo. Experimental ATM/ATR inhibition accelerated the transition to immature cell states, acquisition of LSC properties and AL development in these mice. The MLL-ENL-ERtm mouse model allows us to study the kinetics of MLL-ENL-ERtm LSC development.We raised the questions how the transformation process progresses from the pre-LSC to the LSC state, and how DNA damage response (DDR) - mediated senescence affects the transition in gene expression.Given that the threshold of DDR signaling events is rate-limiting, we determined the transcription profile of the pre- LSC–enriched cell states derived from bone marrow and spleen of the MLL-ENL-ERtm mice at the early disease stage, and we correlated this transcription profile with the level of DDR, proliferation rate and induction of senescence. Pair-wise comparisons revealed up-regulation of the Six1 transcription factor gene and its cofactor Eya1 in the MLL-ENL-ERtm pre-LSCs in association with aberrant proliferation in both tissues. The notable difference between the two tissues concerning the barrier induction was the higher threshold of DDR and senescence in the bone marrow due to cooperation with inflammatory cytokines that fine-tune the DDR level. Interestingly, the expression of Six1 and Eya1 genes was down-regulated in senescence exclusively in the bone marrow. Consistent with these in vivo data, we found Six1 expression decreased in response to inflammation/DDR-induced senescence in the MLL-ENL-ERtm bone marrow cells cultured in vitro and correlated with SA-beta-gal positivity and p16 up-regulation. Six1 mRNA level was decreased only transiently after ionizing radiation (4 Gy)-induced DDR in the same cell line. These data suggest that Six1 expression is down-regulated in response to high DDR and permanent cell-cycle arrest in the MLL-ENL-ERtm pre-LSCs.Furthermore, we identified the transcription profile of the LSC-enriched cell state after inhibition of DDR in caffeine-treated MLL-ENL-ERtm mice in vivo. Interestingly, the expression level of Six1 and Eya1 was significantly increased in the bone marrow and spleen of the MLL-ENL-ERtm AML mice compared to the early (preleukemia) stage. High expression of Six1 and Eya1 and higher cell number expressing these genes was further confirmed by immunohistochemical staining on tissue sections. The MLL-ENL-ERtm LSC-enriched spleen cells showed increased colony forming ability in vitro and leukemia-initiating potential in serial transplantation experiments compared to pre-LSCs. Moreover, we detected Six1 and Eya1 expression in the infiltrating leukemia cells in tissues of the caffeine-treated MLL-ENL-ERtm AML mice and in a subset of leukemia cells in transplanted mice. Based on these findings and correlations, we hypothesized that the Six1/Eya1 pathway might be involved in regulation of some of the aspects of LSC development as well as invasion and maintenance of leukemia in our MLL-ENL-ERtm mice. Notably, our data indicate that senescence represses a subset of the MLL-ENL-downstream transcription response and prevents full activation of self-renewal. Experiments leading to more detailed understanding of the role of the Six1/Eya1 pathway in the MLL-ENL-induced cellular transformation are ongoing. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

P16INK4a: A central player in cellular senescence and a promising aging biomarker in elderly cancer patients

Abstract The p16 INK4a tumor suppressor protein functions as a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, preventing phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein and consequently arresting the cell cycle in the G1-phase. Together with p53 and p21 CIP1 it has an important function in inducing permanent cell cycle arrest, called senescence, in response to all sorts of cellular damage. Bypass of these senescence pathways has been shown to be associated with increased occurrence of multiple malignancies. In this review we focus on the role of p16 INK4a in cellular senescence, its tumor suppression potential and its effect on aging. Also, the consequences of senescence in cancer therapy and its possible side-effects are considered. p16 INK4a expression in peripheral blood T-lymphocytes is discussed as a promising candidate biomarker which could reflect biological age and could be used to guide individual optimal treatment in the elderly cancer population.

DNA Damage Caused by Ionizing Radiation in Embryonic Diploid Fibroblasts WI-38 Induces Both Apoptosis and Senescence

Cellular response to ionizing radiation-induced damage depends on the cell type and the ability to repair DNA damage. Some types of cells undergo apoptosis, whereas others induce a permanent cell cycle arrest and do not proliferate. Our study demonstrates two types of response of embryonic diploid fibroblasts WI-38 to ionizing radiation. In the WI-38 cells p53 is activated, protein p21 increases, but the cells are arrested in G2 phase of cell cycle. Some of the cells die by apoptosis, but in remaining viable cells p16 increases, senescence associated DNA-damage foci occur, and senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity increases, which indicate stress-induced premature senescence.

Cell Arrest and Cell Death in Mammalian Preimplantation Development: Lessons from the Bovine Model

BackgroundThe causes, modes, biological role and prospective significance of cell death in preimplantation development in humans and other mammals are still poorly understood. Early bovine embryos represent a very attractive experimental model for the investigation of this fundamental and important issue.Methods and FindingsTo obtain reference data on the temporal and spatial occurrence of cell death in early bovine embryogenesis, three-dimensionally preserved embryos of different ages and stages of development up to hatched blastocysts were examined in toto by confocal laser scanning microscopy. In parallel, transcript abundance profiles for selected apoptosis-related genes were analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Our study documents that in vitro as well as in vivo, the first four cleavage cycles are prone to a high failure rate including different types of permanent cell cycle arrest and subsequent non-apoptotic blastomere death. In vitro produced and in vivo derived blastocysts showed a significant incidence of cell death in the inner cell mass (ICM), but only in part with morphological features of apoptosis. Importantly, transcripts for CASP3, CASP9, CASP8 and FAS/FASLG were not detectable or found at very low abundances.Conclusions In vitro and in vivo, errors and failures of the first and the next three cleavage divisions frequently cause immediate embryo death or lead to aberrant subsequent development, and are the main source of developmental heterogeneity. A substantial occurrence of cell death in the ICM even in fast developing blastocysts strongly suggests a regular developmentally controlled elimination of cells, while the nature and mechanisms of ICM cell death are unclear. Morphological findings as well as transcript levels measured for important apoptosis-related genes are in conflict with the view that classical caspase-mediated apoptosis is the major cause of cell death in early bovine development.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Induced by Senescent Fibroblasts

Depending on the cell type and tissue environment, epithelial and mesenchymal cell phenotypes are not static and can be highly dynamic. Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) and reverse EMTs provide flexibility during embryogenesis. While EMTs are a critical normal process during development and wound healing, properties of the EMT have been implicated in human pathology, particularly cancer metastasis. A normal undamaged epithelium does not typically exhibit features of an EMT. However, particularly under the influence of the surrounding microenvironment, cancer cells may reactivate developmental phenotypes out of context in the adult. This reactivation, such as the EMT, can facilitate tumor cell invasion and metastasis, and therefore is a major mechanism of tumor progression. Conversely, cellular senescence, which is associated with aging, is a process by which cells enter a state of permanent cell cycle arrest, thereby constituting a potent tumor suppressive mechanism. However, accumulating evidence shows that senescent cells can have deleterious effects on the tissue microenvironment. The most significant of these effects is the acquisition of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that turns senescent fibroblasts into pro-inflammatory cells having the ability to promote tumor progression, in part by inducing an EMT in nearby epithelial cells. Here, we summarize the potential impacts of SASP factors, particularly interleukins, on tissue microenvironments and their ability to stimulate tumor progression through induction of an EMT.

A kinase shRNA screen links LATS2 and the pRB tumor suppressor

pRB-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation is a complex process that depends on the action of many proteins. However, little is known about the specific pathways that cooperate with the Retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and the variables that influence pRB's ability to arrest tumor cells. Here we describe two shRNA screens that identify kinases that are important for pRB to suppress cell proliferation and pRB-mediated induction of senescence markers. The results reveal an unexpected effect of LATS2, a component of the Hippo pathway, on pRB-induced phenotypes. Partial knockdown of LATS2 strongly suppresses some pRB-induced senescence markers. Further analysis shows that LATS2 cooperates with pRB to promote the silencing of E2F target genes, and that reduced levels of LATS2 lead to defects in the assembly of DREAM (DP, RB [retinoblastoma], E2F, and MuvB) repressor complexes at E2F-regulated promoters. Kinase assays show that LATS2 can phosphorylate DYRK1A, and that it enhances the ability of DYRK1A to phosphorylate the DREAM subunit LIN52. Intriguingly, the LATS2 locus is physically linked with RB1 on 13q, and this region frequently displays loss of heterozygosity in human cancers. Our results reveal a functional connection between the pRB and Hippo tumor suppressor pathways, and suggest that low levels of LATS2 may undermine the ability of pRB to induce a permanent cell cycle arrest in tumor cells.

Polymerase Epsilon Is Required To Maintain Replicative Senescence

Replicative senescence is a permanent cell cycle arrest in response to extensive telomere shortening. To understand the mechanisms behind a permanent arrest, we screened for factors affecting replicative senescence in budding yeast lacking telomere elongation pathways. Intriguingly, we found that DNA polymerase epsilon (Pol ε) acts synergistically with Exo1 nuclease to maintain replicative senescence. In contrast, the Pol ε-associated checkpoint and replication protein Mrc1 facilitates escape from senescence. To understand this paradox, in which DNA-synthesizing factors cooperate with DNA-degrading factors to maintain arrest, whereas a checkpoint protein opposes arrest, we analyzed the dynamics of double- and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) at chromosome ends during senescence. We found evidence for cycles of DNA resection, followed by resynthesis. We propose that resection of the shortest telomere, activating a Rad24(Rad17)-dependent checkpoint pathway, alternates in time with an Mrc1-regulated Pol ε resynthesis of a short, double-stranded chromosome end, which in turn activates a Rad9(53BP1)-dependent checkpoint pathway. Therefore, instead of one type of DNA damage, different types (ssDNA and a double-strand break-like structure) alternate in a "vicious circle," each activating a different checkpoint sensor. Every time resection and resynthesis switches, a fresh signal initiates, thus preventing checkpoint adaptation and ensuring the permanent character of senescence.

Escape from p21-mediated Oncogene-induced Senescence Leads to Cell Dedifferentiation and Dependence on Anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL and MCL1 Proteins

Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is a tumor suppressor response that induces permanent cell cycle arrest in response to oncogenic signaling. Through the combined activation of the p53-p21 and p16-Rb suppressor pathways, OIS leads to the transcriptional repression of proliferative genes. Although this protective mechanism has been essentially described in primary cells, we surprisingly observed in this study that the OIS program is conserved in established colorectal cell lines. In response to the RAS oncogene and despite the inactivation of p53 and p16(INK4), HT29 cells enter senescence, up-regulate p21(WAF1), and induce senescence-associated heterochromatin foci formation. The same effect was observed in response to B-RAF(v600E) in LS174T cells. We also observed that p21(WAF1) prevents the expression of the CDC25A and PLK1 genes to induce cell cycle arrest. Using ChIP and luciferase experiments, we have observed that p21(WAF1) binds to the PLK1 promoter to induce its down-regulation during OIS induction. Following 4-5 weeks, several clones were able to resume proliferation and escape this tumor suppressor pathway. Tumor progression was associated with p21(WAF1) down-regulation and CDC25A and PLK1 reexpression. In addition, OIS and p21(WAF1) escape was associated with an increase in DNA damage, an induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition program, and an increase in the proportion of cells expressing the CD24(low)/CD44(high) phenotype. Results also indicate that malignant cells having escaped OIS rely on survival pathways induced by Bcl-xL/MCL1 signaling. In light of these observations, it appears that the transcriptional functions of p21(WAF1) are active during OIS and that the inactivation of this protein is associated with cell dedifferentiation and enhanced survival.

P38MAPK is a novel DNA damage response-independent regulator of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype.

Cellular senescence suppresses cancer by forcing potentially oncogenic cells into a permanent cell cycle arrest. Senescent cells also secrete growth factors, proteases, and inflammatory cytokines, termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Much is known about pathways that regulate the senescence growth arrest, but far less is known about pathways that regulate the SASP. We previously showed that DNA damage response (DDR) signalling is essential, but not sufficient, for the SASP, which is restrained by p53. Here, we delineate another crucial SASP regulatory pathway and its relationship to the DDR and p53. We show that diverse senescence-inducing stimuli activate the stress-inducible kinase p38MAPK in normal human fibroblasts. p38MAPK inhibition markedly reduced the secretion of most SASP factors, constitutive p38MAPK activation was sufficient to induce an SASP, and p53 restrained p38MAPK activation. Further, p38MAPK regulated the SASP independently of the canonical DDR. Mechanistically, p38MAPK induced the SASP largely by increasing NF-κB transcriptional activity. These findings assign p38MAPK a novel role in SASP regulation--one that is necessary, sufficient, and independent of previously described pathways.

Pharmacological Activation of p53 in Cancer Cells

Tumor suppressor p53 is a transcription factor that regulates a large number of genes and guards against genomic instability. Under multiple cellular stress conditions, p53 functions to block cell cycle progression transiently unless proper DNA repair occurs. Failure of DNA repair mechanisms leads to p53-mediated induction of cell death programs. p53 also induces permanent cell cycle arrest known as cellular senescence. During neoplastic progression, p53 is often mutated and fails to efficiently perform these functions. It has been observed that cancers carrying a wild-type p53 may also have interrupted downstream p53 regulatory signaling leading to disruption in p53 functions. Therefore, strategies to reactivate p53 provide an attractive approach for blocking tumor pathogenesis and its progression. p53 activation may also lead to regression of existing early neoplastic lesions and therefore may be important in developing cancer chemoprevention protocols. A large number of small molecules capable of reactivating p53 have been developed and some are progressing through clinical trials for prospective human applications. However, several questions remain to be answered at this stage. For example, it is not certain if pharmacological activation of p53 will restore all of its multifaceted biological responses, assuming that the targeted cell is not killed following p53 activation. It remains to be demonstrated whether the distinct biological effects regulated by specific post-translationally modified p53 can effectively be restored by refolding mutant p53. Mutant p53 can be classified as a loss-of-function or gain-of-function protein depending on the type of mutation. It is also unclear whether reactivation of mutant p53 has similar consequences in cells carrying gain-of-function and loss-of-function p53 mutants. This review provides a description of various pharmacological approaches tested to activate p53 (both wild-type and mutant) and to assess the effects of activated p53 on neoplastic progression.

Alteration of Golgi structure in senescent cells and its regulation by a G protein γ subunit

Cellular senescence is a process wherein proliferating cells undergo permanent cell cycle arrest while remaining viable. Senescence results in enhanced secretion of proteins that promote cancer and inflammation. We report here that the structure of the Golgi complex which regulates secretion is altered in senescent cells. In cells where senescence is achieved by replicative exhaustion or in cells wherein senescence has been induced with BrdU treatment dependent stress, the Golgi complex is dispersed. The expression of a G protein γ subunit, γ11, capable of translocation from the plasma membrane to the Golgi complex on receptor activation increases with senescence. Knockdown of γ11 or overexpression of a dominant negative γ3 subunit inhibits Golgi dispersal induced by senescence. Overall these results suggest that in cellular senescence an upregulated G protein gamma subunit mediates alterations in the structure of the Golgi.

Irradiation of Adult Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Provokes Activation of p53, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Senescence but Not Apoptosis

Adult human dental pulp contains stem cells (DPSCs) that are capable of differentiation into osteoblasts, odontoblasts, adipocytes, and neuronal-like cells. Because these cells have potential use in tissue regeneration, herein we characterized the response of DPSC lines to ionizing radiation (IR). These DPSC lines have been developed from the extracted molars of healthy donors. DPSCs were cultivated in a unique media supplemented with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Since tissue homeostasis depends on a precise balance among cell proliferation, senescence, and cell death, we explored the effects of IR (2-20 Gy) on the proliferative activity of DPSCs and the molecular pathways involved. Even the highest dose used (20 Gy) did not induce DPSC apoptosis. After irradiation with doses of 6 and 20 Gy, DPSCs accumulated in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. DPSCs responded to IR (20 Gy) with senescence detected as SA-β-galactosidase positivity, beginning on the third day after irradiation. Twenty-four hours after irradiation, p53 and its serine 15 and 392 phosphorylated forms were detected. At this time, p21 (WAF1) was induced. Increases in protein p16 were observed from the third day following irradiation and continued till the end of the examination (Day 13). We conclude that DPSCs respond to IR-induced damage by permanent cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase and by stress-induced premature senescence.

Telomeres avoid end detection by severing the checkpoint signal transduction pathway

Telomeres protect the normal ends of chromosomes from being recognized as deleterious DNA double-strand breaks. Recent studies have uncovered an apparent paradox: although DNA repair is prevented, several proteins involved in DNA damage processing and checkpoint responses are recruited to telomeres in every cell cycle and are required for end protection. It is currently not understood how telomeres prevent DNA damage responses from causing permanent cell cycle arrest. Here we show that fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) cells lacking Taz1, an orthologue of human TRF1 and TRF2 (ref. 2), recruit DNA repair proteins (Rad22(RAD52) and Rhp51(RAD51), where the superscript indicates the human orthologue) and checkpoint sensors (RPA, Rad9, Rad26(ATRIP) and Cut5/Rad4(TOPBP1)) to telomeres. Despite this, telomeres fail to accumulate the checkpoint mediator Crb2(53BP1) and, consequently, do not activate Chk1-dependent cell cycle arrest. Artificially recruiting Crb2(53BP1) to taz1Δ telomeres results in a full checkpoint response and cell cycle arrest. Stable association of Crb2(53BP1) to DNA double-strand breaks requires two independent histone modifications: H4 dimethylation at lysine 20 (H4K20me2) and H2A carboxy-terminal phosphorylation (γH2A). Whereas γH2A can be readily detected, telomeres lack H4K20me2, in contrast to internal chromosome locations. Blocking checkpoint signal transduction at telomeres requires Pot1 and Ccq1, and loss of either Pot1 or Ccq1 from telomeres leads to Crb2(53BP1) foci formation, Chk1 activation and cell cycle arrest. Thus, telomeres constitute a chromatin-privileged region of the chromosomes that lack essential epigenetic markers for DNA damage response amplification and cell cycle arrest. Because the protein kinases ATM and ATR must associate with telomeres in each S phase to recruit telomerase, exclusion of Crb2(53BP1) has a critical role in preventing telomeres from triggering cell cycle arrest.

Exposure to fractionated dose of 60 Gy affects molecular response of HL-60 cells to irradiation

In this work we evaluated changes in molecular response of human promyelocyte leukemia cells HL-60 and HL-60-IR cells (HL-60 irradiated by 10 cycles of radiation with total dose of 60 Gy, given over a period of 3 months) to irradiation by the dose of 2 and 8 Gy. Analysis of CD11b and apoptosis by flow-cytometry revealed that on 3rd day after irradiation by 8 Gy the HL-60-IR are more resistant to radiation-induced apoptosis and more differentiated (increase in CD11b in non-apoptotic cells) than regular HL-60. We found that both types of cells have high basal level of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases Erk1/2 . Irradiation induces decrease in Erk1/2 phosphorylation after 4 and 8 h in both cell types. However, in HL-60-IR cells Erk1/2 phosphorylation is restored faster than in HL-60. Also it was found that in contrary to HL-60 cells, the HL-60-IR cells react to 2 Gy irradiation by p53 independent increase in p21(WAF1/Cip1), and not by activation of checkpoint kinase Chk-2. Therefore we concluded that relatively high dose of radiation (6 Gy) does not lead after 10 repetitive irradiations to eradication of HL-60 cells, but instead increases their radioresistance, increases the ability to differentiate, alters MAPK response, increases amount of p21(WAF1/Cip1), and decreases induction of apoptosis by ionizing radiation. p21(WAF1/Cip1) might prevent apoptosis induction and trigger permanent cell-cycle arrest, which can also contribute to regression of this leukaemia after therapy.

Two-fold elevation of expression of FoxM1 transcription factor in mouse embryonic fibroblasts enhances cell cycle checkpoint activity by stimulating p21 and Chk1 transcription

Forkhead Box M1 (FoxM1) transcription factor regulates expression of cell cycle effective genes and is stabilized by checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2) to stimulate expression of DNA repair enzymes in response to DNA damage. This study intended to test whether FoxM1 is involved in cell cycle checkpoint pathways. Analysis of senescence and cell proliferation in FoxM1 transgenic (TG) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with 2-fold elevation of FoxM1, and overexpression or knockdown of FoxM1 in an inducible FoxM1 expression cell line, or FoxM1 siRNA. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), and cotransfection to determine FoxM1 transcription targets, as well as RNase protection assays and western blot analysis, were performed. Two-fold elevation of FoxM1 in FoxM1-TG-MEFs resulted in low levels of cell proliferation and increase in permanent cell cycle arrest at early passages (from passage 6 to 9). These phenotypes correlated with increased phosphorylation of p53 on Ser15, elevated expression of cell cycle inhibitor p21 and Chk1 at passage 3. FoxM1 was stabilized in response to DNA damage in MEFs and FoxM1 overexpression induced p21. Knockdown of FoxM1 resulted in decrease in Chk1. ChIP, EMSA and cotransfection assays confirmed that FoxM1 stimulated promoters of p21 and Chk1. Chk1 and p21 are direct transcription targets of FoxM1 and FoxM1 participates in transcriptional responses to stress in normal cells.

Roles of the checkpoint sensor clamp Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 (911)-complex and the clamp loaders Rad17-RFC and Ctf18-RFC in Schizosaccharomyces pombe telomere maintenance

While telomeres must provide mechanisms to prevent DNA repair and DNA damage checkpoint factors from fusing chromosome ends and causing permanent cell cycle arrest, these factors associate with functional telomeres and play critical roles in the maintenance of telomeres. Previous studies have established that Tel1 (ATM) and Rad3 (ATR) kinases play redundant but essential roles for telomere maintenance in fission yeast. In addition, the Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 (911) and Rad17-RFC complexes work downstream of Rad3 (ATR) in fission yeast telomere maintenance. Here, we investigated how 911, Rad17-RFC and another RFC-like complex Ctf18-RFC contribute to telomere maintenance in fission yeast cells lacking Tel1 and carrying a novel hypomorphic allele of rad3 (DBD-rad3), generated by the fusion between the DNA binding domain (DBD) of the fission yeast telomere capping protein Pot1 and Rad3. Our investigations have uncovered a surprising redundancy for Rad9 and Hus1 in allowing Rad1 to contribute to telomere maintenance in DBD-rad3 tel1 cells. In addition, we found that Rad17-RFC and Ctf18-RFC carry out redundant telomere maintenance functions in DBD-rad3 tel1 cells. Since checkpoint sensor proteins are highly conserved, genetic redundancies uncovered here may be relevant to telomere maintenance and detection of DNA damage in other eukaryotes.

22 DNA repair and cancer

by oncogene activation are restrained by cellular senescence. We have previously shown that expression of an activated oncogene in cultured normal human cells results in a permanent cell-cycle arrest caused by the activation of a robust DDR. Experimental inactivation of DDR abrogates senescence and promotes cell transformation. Oncogene-induced senescence is also associated with a global heterochromatinization of nuclear DNA. Senescenceassociated heterochromatic foci (SAHFs) are enriched in heterochromatin markers and they have been proposed to enforce cellular senescence by suppressing the expression of proliferative genes. We will discuss our most recent results on the interplay between DDR and heterochromatin formation, the differential repair of the human genome and the regulation of DDR in stem cells and its impact on their proliferation and viability.

Deregulation of oncogene-induced senescence and p53 translational control in X-linked dyskeratosis congenita

Defects in ribosome biogenesis and function are present in a growing list of human syndromes associated with cancer susceptibility. One example is X-linked dyskeratosis congenita (X-DC) in which the DKC1 gene, encoding for an enzyme that modifies ribosomal RNA, is found to be mutated. How ribosome dysfunction leads to cancer remains poorly understood. A critical cellular response that counteracts cellular transformation is oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). Here, we show that during OIS, a switch between cap- and internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent translation occurs. During this switch, an IRES element positioned in the 5'untranslated region of p53 is engaged and facilitates p53 translation. We further show that in DKC1(m) cells, p53 IRES-dependent translation is impaired during OIS ex vivo and on DNA damage in vivo. This defect in p53 translation perturbs the cellular response that counteracts oncogenic insult. We extend these findings to X-DC human patient cells in which similar impairments in p53 IRES-dependent translation are observed. Importantly, re-introduction of wild-type DKC1 restores p53 expression in these cells. These results provide insight into the basis for cancer susceptibility in human syndromes associated with ribosome dysfunction.

Abstract 1099: In vitro and in cellulo measurement of p53-binding activities reveals involvement of chromatin in p53-binding pattern formation

Abstract p53 is a master transcriptional regulator that maintains genome integrity and cellular homeostasis in response to different stresses. Despite the relatively high number of research projects involving p53, the precise mechanism by which adaptable response is triggered remains unclear. Two theories are currently proposed. An initial model suggests that following stresses, pre-binding events (e.g. post-translational modifications, protein interactions, p53 concentration) direct p53 binding only to some specific effector genes. A second model proposes that p53 binds all the REs (response elements) and then post-binding events (e.g. post-translational modifications, presence of RNA pol II, etc.) operate as filters, thus resulting in the induction of specific genes. Recently, we revealed that pre- and post-binding events act together to regulate adapted stress responses. (Cancer Res. 2009 69:8463-71). The challenge now is to explore the mechanisms behind these stress-specific binding patterns. In order to do so, we used a novel approach that compares p53-binding activities to the p21 REs in vitro (on naked DNA) and in cellulo (on chromatinized DNA) in response to different UV-B and Nutlin-3 treatment doses. For in vitro experiments, human primary fibroblasts were treated, then p53-binding activities of nuclear extracts were assessed using a multiplex format microsphere assay of protein-DNA binding (MAPD, PLoS Genet. 2009 5:e1000462). These experiments showed that, following both UV-B and Nutlin-3 treatments, the −1354, −2242, −3969 and −11709 bp REs of p21 were bound by p53 to form similar binding patterns. On the other hand, the in cellulo approach based on DNase I footprinting revealed stress specific p53-binding patterns on the −1354, −2242 and −11709 bp REs only. Interestingly, these patterns appeared to be modulated by treatment doses. Finally, to investigate if a correlation exists between stress specific p53-binding patterns and cellular outcomes, we monitored apoptosis, cell cycle, cell proliferation and p21-mRNA level. We showed that when p53 bound the −1354 bp RE, it induced a high level of p21 mRNA correlated with permanent cell cycle arrest. Taken together, these data demonstrate the importance of chromatin on p53-binding pattern formation. Clearly p53 was not able to bind the −3969 bp RE in cellulo, indicating that accessibility to REs must be affected by the chromatin condensation state. Moreover, different treatments leading to similar p53 levels induce similar p53-binding activities in vitro. This underlines that the modulation of p53-binding activities to specific REs' DNA sequences is not involved in the formation of the binding patterns observed on p21’s REs. These data reflect the great versatility and complexity of the gene regulation achieved by p53 and help to understand the mechanisms behind adaptable responses to stress. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1099.

Senescent cells as a source of inflammatory factors for tumor progression

Cellular senescence, which is associated with aging, is a process by which cells enter a state of permanent cell cycle arrest, therefore constituting a potent tumor suppressive mechanism. Recent studies show that, despite the beneficial effects of cellular senescence, senescent cells can also exert harmful effects on the tissue microenvironment. The most significant of these effects is the acquisition of a senescent-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which entails a striking increase in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Here, we summarize our knowledge of the SASP and the impact it has on tissue microenvironments and ability to stimulate tumor progression.